"Seriously, girl? Where did you find Aiden?" asked Adia, her voice tinged with urgency and concern as she leaned toward Leila. The young woman was mentally connected to Podbe. Adia could barely contain her excitement, so different from the coldness she had shown before Azulema's block was imposed. That block had been designed to prevent her from remembering the significant losses of her past, but now that it was broken, she had returned to her old self.
"They're passing through two walls," echoed the voices of Can and Reia inside Leila's mind, guiding her thoughts. Meanwhile, Podbe had activated his detective mode, using a special system that allowed him to see beyond the obvious, revealing clues invisible to the human eye.
Adia, the mage, nodded decisively. "Alright, I'll make an entrance." With an elegant gesture, she traced a circle with her hands, conjuring a vibrant mix of earth and ice magic. The air filled with a muffled crunch as the ground trembled slightly, and a magical drill began piercing the icy wall in front of them, leaving behind a perfect opening.
"Alright, go in," said Adia, her tone firm yet calm, as the others followed her cautiously. Before breaking through the last wall, the mage created a small hole to observe the other side. Through the gap, she spotted a gloomy scene: a cold, sterile prison illuminated by flickering lights. She saw a group of figures dragging a boy with shackles on his feet and hands, along with a metallic helmet that seemed to drain his vital energy. Then, she recognized the other prisoners: Maria, Elena, and Billy.
"This is it," confirmed Adia, though her expression darkened momentarily. "But before we enter, we need to disable the cameras. I'll handle that," Tron, the robot, chimed in, his metallic eyes gleaming. With a precise movement, one of his fingers detached, transforming into small paper planes that flew silently through the hole and adhered to the cameras as if they were mere leaves.
"Done," announced Tron, crossing his metallic arms.
"Good, give me some space, so I don't make noise," requested Adia, closing her eyes for a moment. She recited words in an ancient language: "TRANSPIRIOM." Instead of destroying the wall, it dissolved like water, allowing them to pass through without resistance.
"That was amazing!" exclaimed Leila, awestruck, as she crossed the invisible threshold.
Swiftly, Leila used her telepathy to knock out two nearby guards, who fell asleep soundlessly. Meanwhile, Adia approached the bars of the cage where the kids were held and whispered softly:
"Kids."
Maria turned her head at the familiar voice. Upon seeing Adia, her eyes lit up with relief. "Adia! Thank goodness you're here… But who are they?" she asked, pointing to the newcomers.
Before Maria could continue, Billy interrupted excitedly: "It's Podbe the dog!" The canine wagged his tail enthusiastically at the sound of his name.
"No time," urged Adia, her seriousness echoing in the room. "We need to get out of here. I'll explain later. But what happened to Aiden? Why does he have those things on?"
Elena, her voice sad and weary, replied: "They put those devices on him so he can't move or use his portal powers. They've been using him… as a tool."
Anger flashed in Adia's eyes. With a swift gesture, she melted the bars of the cage using her ice magic to avoid electrocuting herself from the electricity coursing through them. Drake, the chief with his gauntleted arm, shattered the shackles binding the teenager with a single blow. "Barbaric," he muttered, shaking his head.
As Aiden was freed, his face emerged—gaunt and exhausted, as if every last drop of energy had been drained from him. Podbe approached him and tenderly licked his hand, trying to lift his spirits.
"Reactivating primary link," a voice resonated—it was Reia within Aiden's mind. In the shared mental space, Podbe appeared before him, slowly advancing until he transformed into a boy of Aiden's age. With a warm smile, he extended his hand.
"Hello, friend. I've finally found you," said Podbe, his voice conveying a mix of joy and relief.
Beside him, Reia embraced Aiden tightly. "Look what they've done to you, Aiden. Those barbarians…" Her voice trembled with restrained anger.
Podbe nodded. "We'll get you out of here. We've come to save you."
Aiden, with great difficulty, responded: "Good… They used me to create more Metalux, as they call them. They gathered those rocks and granted powers to each of the orphaned kids, then placed controls on them. Now they're definitely destroying the city… or the world."
"We know," Podbe and Reia responded in unison. "We've already faced some of them and defeated them."
Reia looked at him gently. "Rest. No one will hurt you anymore. Adia will heal you, and you'll be as good as new."
With those words, Aiden closed his eyes, collapsing to the ground in a deep state of lethargy, a victim of both physical and emotional exhaustion.
In the real world, Adia watched Aiden with a mixture of guilt and concern. I should have been more emotionally supportive towards him, she thought to herself. She pulled a thermos from her bag—a worn metal container holding the brew that Eduard used to prepare. Carefully, she brought the vessel to Aiden's lips. The boy took a sip, but he was so drained that the revitalizing effect would take longer than usual to kick in. The drink was intensely bitter, causing Aiden to cough weakly, though his eyes showed a glimmer of gratitude.
"Distribute it among others," Adia instructed calmly, handing the thermos to Leila. Obediently, Leila offered small sips to each of the kids. Some wrinkled their faces at the horrible taste of the drink, but the effect was immediate: their bodies straightened, their eyes gleamed with renewed energy, and their expressions brightened.
"Hey, Podbe… you look different," commented Maria, curiously eyeing the crescent marks now glowing on the dog's forehead. The others nodded, also noticing the change in his appearance.
Drake, ever practical, hoisted Aiden onto his back, wrapping him in a protective cocoon that Adia had conjured with a quick gesture. The kids introduced themselves to one another, thrilled to learn that Drake was the leader of the super-agent agency. Their faces reflected admiration and excitement, though some still didn't fully understand what abilities they had gained. Elena, for her part, extended her hand and let a small flame dance between her fingers.
"So you're a mage like me," said Adia with a warm smile. "Maybe I can train you. But first, we need to get out of here. Through where we came in."
"Alright," everyone responded in unison, heading toward the opening Adia had created. However, just before reaching it, something dark and menacing emerged in front of them. A sinister figure, shrouded in dense shadows, blocked their path. Its long tentacles writhed in the air, ready to attack.
"Watch out!" shouted Leila, focusing on reading the creature's thoughts while raising telekinetic barriers to protect the group from the tentacles lunging toward them. The impact resounded like thunder as the mental shields intercepted the attacks.
"Well, well…" Geros's voice emerged as a deep, mocking echo, reverberating through the space with an almost tangible quality, as if the shadows themselves were speaking. His tone was a mix of amusement and threat, enveloping everyone in a sense of unease. "I sense the power of that thing I've been longing for… And here it is, right in front of me. They must have heard me wishing for it on my list because this has to be my lucky day."
He paused for a moment, tilting his head slightly as his hollow eyes scanned the group with spine-chilling slowness, as if savoring every second of their uncertainty.
"But… where did it come from?" he asked, more to himself than to them, though his tone suggested he didn't expect an answer. His tentacles moved with a viscous sound, sliding through the air like lurking snakes.
Geros grinned sinisterly, revealing a row of sharp teeth that gleamed under the dim light. "They left so soon, and the party hadn't even started. How rude of them! But no matter, because I am your host. I… am Geros," he declared with a reverberation that seemed to shake the very air around him. "The most powerful being you will ever encounter."
His maniacal laughter filled the atmosphere, deep and rumbling, like thunder in an endless storm. Each cackle seemed to tear at reality itself, sending chills down everyone's spines. It was clear that Geros wasn't just enjoying the moment—he wanted to make sure everyone understood who was in control.
Geros continued observing intently until his gaze landed on Podbe. His expression shifted from amusement to disbelief mixed with greed. "Are you serious? The JORGS system in the hands—or rather, the paws—of a dog? That's absurd. I'll take it, even if I have to extract it from its cold, dead body."
Another malevolent laugh filled the air as Geros prepared to attack, completely blocking their exit. The tension was palpable, and the group instinctively gathered together, ready to face the new adversary standing between them and their escape.
Minutes earlier, in another part of the complex, Geros was alone in a dark room, his hands trembling slightly as he examined his body, which no longer showed signs of alteration. "This power… it's incredible," he murmured to himself, his tone a mix of awe and euphoria. "I no longer feel pain or see my skin disintegrating. On the contrary: I'm full of vitality. While the other stones grant limited powers or default abilities, this one… this one makes my desires reality," he said, clenching his fist with determination. His eyes gleamed with an ambitious spark as a sly smile spread across his face. "I want to test it all. And I already know exactly how to do it." Without wasting another second, Geros rushed out of the room, leaving behind a trail of energy that seemed to vibrate in the air. Maos, seeing him pass by, asked in confusion, "Where are you going, sir?" But Geros had already disappeared, completely ignoring the question, lost in his thoughts and plans.
In another sector of the complex, Maos's assistants were transporting sealed containers holding the agents captured by Aragon. However, something unusual caught their attention: a small fly buzzed over the containers, finally landing on one of them. One of the henchmen frowned, annoyed. He pulled out a handkerchief and waved it to shoo the insect away.
"Leave it, it's just a stupid fly," another said dismissively, continuing to walk.
But what they didn't expect was that the supposed fly would begin to grow rapidly, transforming into a ferocious giant lion whose eyes glowed with an intense golden hue. With a deafening roar, the lion unleashed a wave of energy that instantly knocked out the henchmen, leaving them sprawled on the floor.
"Wait, guys! I'll free you!" a familiar voice echoed through the chamber. The lion watched proudly as the containers began to open, releasing the captive agents.